Published at 16th of February 2024 2:22 pm

Chapter 74. End Of Semester Duties

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While most indulged in the end-of-semester revelries, Nox set up Noxian Brews for the next semester, did all the admin work for the next semester, and prepared the party to expedition with Kris.

The contraceptive was ready. Lillin exhibited no side effects. Pudge and Michelle looked her over and foresaw no long-term side effects. Both of them had excellent standings in the research department, and their words carried much weight. Medicine and any products that affected one’s internal physiology—especially abdominal organs—were subject to a lot of scrutiny from the guilds, Woodson University, and regulatory bodies. Her approval accelerated the process since Michelle was an adept-ranked healer with a stellar reputation with the university. Nox successfully patented the product.

Nox accompanied Annabelle to several balls and soirees, where the latter of the pair handed out samples to her friends. They expected word to spread during the parties and over the semester break. Professors and affluent staff also received samples. Nox eventually wanted to make the product available to everyone. However, that would require further time investment to find cheaper materials and equipment for large-batch production.

Nox had money but needed to figure out where to spend it. Lord Oakheart had introduced him to a broker. They met and discussed the Noxian Brews’ needs. Unfortunately, nothing the man had available was within Nox’s budget. The sale prices were too high and the rents obnoxious. The section of the city beyond the nobles’ quarter had some availability. Ordinary delvers frequented the pubs and taverns in the area, and mostly regular citizens resided there. Any shopfront in the section would receive half the attention from the intended clientele.

The state of the properties could have been better. They all needed significant investment before the shopfronts were good enough for the affluent clientele Nox hoped to attract. He would need to spend even more money before any of them were usable as a workshop. Any he could exclusively use for brewing were much too far away to visit between or after lectures. Unless Nox hired a carriage or mount, he’d spend close to an hour walking each way. He hoped things would change after he returned from the expedition. Kris believed that several influential families would leave the city after their members were caught in cultist activities. Properties would become available, and hopefully, prices would drop as a result.

Meanwhile, Lillin, Annabelle, and Wilson took responsibility for preparing for the upcoming expedition. Lord Oakheart would only release his daughter if Wilson accompanied the party. Kris wasn’t happy with the idea, but she allowed it since the deal came with the use of the Wedge. The high-speed vessel would make traveling between the city and wherever Kris wanted to go significantly easier.

The trio bought supplies, new armor, and clothing and invested in weaponry. Everyone but Nox was expected to contribute to the preparation since he committed his alchemical abilities and concoctions to the party. Meanwhile, Michelle only paid half of the full portion since Ernest needed no food or equipment. Kris also contributed as much as Lillin and Annabelle, ensuring they had decent food and anything they might need for the journey.

Annabelle also hired a couple more crew members. One had powerful detection spells and excel in operating airship weaponry. It would save the party from constantly being on alert for pirate and Cloud Hunter attacks. The second was a deckhand responsible for cooking and cleaning during their voyage. Nox thought the latter unnecessary, but the noblewoman was used to a certain standard of living, and he thought it best not to comment on it.

Finally, Nox spent time with Kris planning the coming semester’s curriculum. He didn’t have a choice regarding a couple of them and didn’t complain. Intermediate Dungeon Theory was necessary for his adept license, and Advanced Dungeon Combat would help increase his and the party’s performance during expeditions. Professor Wolfhammer had greenlit the entire party for the class. He only required Annabelle to ascend her star to journeyman first. She wasn’t far from the milestone and believed it possible within the two upcoming months.

Kris liked Nox’s idea of pursuing Finesse Shaping. Since essence glass was a unique material born from stabilizing arcane energies, the pair agreed that he would mostly be limited to Shaping smaller quantities. The course would teach Nox to make delicate structures and intricate patterns and eventually etch spellforms into essence glass at a moment’s notice.

Meanwhile, Kris advised against pursuing Battle Enchantment. The type of spells involved in it were far too limiting and focused more on empowering or debilitating effects. She believed Live Spell Weaving would benefit Nox more. It would demand more work and self-study, but now that Nox had Artisan’s Library, the prospect of memorizing spell scripts tailored to individual essence types no longer concerned him.

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“Your mana zone is too small to make good use of Manipulation,” Kris told him.

“What do you suggest then?” Nox asked. “It’s too small for summoning, too, or I’d dedicate a planet to it. Given how much more powerful Ratra’s Bow improved with Shaping, I bet it will get much better with Manipulation. Besides, its a requirement for most advanced Shaping courses.”

“Perhaps, but you need to think about what to do when disarmed. You can’t always rely on Lillin to carry backup equipment. What’ll you do when your contract ends?” Nox hadn’t told Kris about the details of his contract with Lillin. But Annabelle and the professor knew that one existed. He expected them to want a long conversation on the matter, but neither had initiated one yet. It was safer discussing such things once off campus, anyway. “I’m not saying you give up on Manipulation altogether. Save it for the future once your mana zone grows a little bit more. Instead, consider Animation. If you pick it instead, Dean Woodson will still let you into her advanced courses.”

The idea intrigued Nox. Animation was an off-shoot of Manipulation.

Besides a handful of set scripted functions, the fluidity of Manipulation spells demanded intent-driven casting. To control an object with the intent, it needed to remain in the caster’s mana zone. Otherwise, it would follow the limited spell scripts until the spellform failed and the manipulated objects collapsed or veered off course.

Meanwhile, Animation used no intent-driven casting. It only relied on pre-designed spell scripts, which kept going until the mana fuelling them ran out. Nox guessed he could execute the same plans he had for Manipulation with Animation. It would require more spell weaving but not tax his mind as much. Rigid scripts and limitations would limit his magic. However, once Nox got a handle on Live Spell Weaving, he didn’t foresee much of a problem.

The final day before Kris and the party departed for their expedition was when Nox registered his course choices. He had to change them until the first two weeks of the next semester, but there was no guarantee they’d all have room. Since most professors taught multiple classes, they liked limiting class sizes. Spots were based on merit and a first-come-first-serve basis. Besides Intermediate Dungeon Theory, getting a place in the other courses could get challenging.

It was an impulsive decision, but Nox also signed up for a course in the production department. Beginner Artificing taught binding spells to objects and taught working with a variety of premade spell scripts and essences. He believed it would help him get better at making more potent essence arrows. Nox had no qualms about dropping the subject if things got too hectic and planned on having a frank conversation with the professor once classes started.

Nox was on his way back to Annabelle’s place when he noticed a pair following him. They were burgundy leather coats with no apparent insignias. It was the middle of the day, and he was alone. There was still a chance someone amongst the cultists wanted to make him pay or make an example of him. Of the four mages that destroyed the cell, he was the easiest to ambush.

The Imperian Inquisition and city government had locked away all captured cultists in a high-security prison. They were under investigation and awaiting trial. Many noble families and royals had appeared in the city demanding their children’s release. However, most of their demands went ignored. Kris claimed the inquisitors had launched investigations on them, too.

Nox worried offended families or cultists would attempt to take him hostage and demand a prisoner exchange. So, he made a beeline toward his shared apartment. Lillin and Pudge were home with Michelle, Ernest, Caitlin, and Alexander. They’d all gathered for an end-of-semester pre-dinner drink. Nox would have no trouble fighting off pursuers as powerful as adepts with their help.

When he reached the apartment, his heart dropped. Similarly dressed individuals stood outside of the building too. Nox recognized none of them. When they saw him, the woman closest to the entrance opened the door and waved him through.

Nox considered running but worried his friends were in danger. Besides, the surroundings were rife with activity. If anything happened, people would know. Annabelle would see the threat coming and raise the alarm, or Lillin would give up all attempts at staying hidden and go on a feeding frenzy. Then a familiar face emerged from the doorway, and Nox’s heart skipped a beat. He raced to the woman and threw his arms around her as his lips spread into an involuntary smile.

“I missed you so much,” he whispered.

“I missed you, too, baba,” Mou told him.

“I’ve got so much to tell you! I’m a journeyman mage now and working towards my adept alchemy license. My business—”

“All of that can wait.” She laughed, releasing her nephew. “There’s someone you need to talk to first.”

The excitement faded straight away. Nox’s heart dropped when he realized who Mou meant. The crestless followers and guards helped him figure it out. Queen Lydia Mercer was in his apartment.

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